Rehabilitation of Salt-Affected Soil Through Residues Incorporation and Its Impact on Growth and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice and Wheat

Rehabilitation of Salt-Affected Soil Through
Residues Incorporation and Its Impact on Growth
and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice and Wheat
IA Mahmood1
*, Hussain F1
, Shahzad A2
, Alam SM2
, Ullah MA1
, Zaman B1
, Sultan
T1
and Hyder SI1
1
Land Resources Research Institute, Pakistan
2
National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, Pakistan
Introduction
Soil salinity is a major problem in boosting up agricultural production throughout the
world due to which million hectares of agricultural land is unable to produce potential
crop yields. In regions such as Pakistan, over a quarter of the cultivatable land is occupied
by medium to high salinity [1,2]. The problem is going faster because of heavy irrigations
with brackish water which further decline the fertility of culturable lands and crop yields [2-
6]. Saline soils contain surplus soluble salts (Cl-
and SO4
--
of Na+
, Ca2+
and Mg2+
) which cause
high osmotic pressure and compound interactions of Na, Ca and K [7]. These salts disturb
the equilibrium in rhizosphere and lessen crop productivity by accumulating hazardous
ions. Adequate plant nutrition may reduce ill effects of these ions thereby helping plants to
improve their growth under such situations [8-11]. Phosphorus availability in problem soils
Crimson Publishers
Wings to the Research
Research Article
*Corresponding author: IA Mahmood,
Land Resources Research Institute,
Pakistan
Submission: March 22, 2019
Published: April 26, 2019
Volume 4 - Issue 1
How to cite this article: IA Mahmood,
Hussain F, Shahzad A, Alam S, Ullah M,
et al. Rehabilitation of Salt-Affected Soil
Through Residues Incorporation and
Its Impact on Growth and Yield of Direct
Seeded Rice and Wheat. Mod Concep Dev
Agrono.4(2). MCDA.000582.2019.
DOI: 10.31031/MCDA.2019.04.000582
Copyright@ IA Mahmood, This article is
distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License, which permits unrestricted use
and redistribution provided that the
original author and source are credited.
ISSN: 2637-7659
395
Modern Concepts & Developments in Agronomy
Abstract
A two year field study was conducted on a permanent layout to investigate the effect of crop residues
(CR) incorporation and P application (0, 40, 80, 120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) on rehabilitation of saline soil (ECe
=4.59
dS m-1
; pH=8.38; CaCO3
=3.21%; Extractable P=4.07mg kg-1
; sandy clay loam) during 2011-12. The
experiment was laid out according to split plot design with three replications. Planting of direct seeded
rice (DSR) with and without crop residue incorporation @2ton ha-1
were placed in main plots and P
application was in sub plots. Data on productive tillers, panicle length, paddy/grain and straw yields was
collected. Soil was sampled (0-15cm) before initiation and after the harvest of last crop. On an average
of two years, maximum productive tillers (18), panicle length (33), paddy yield (3.26t ha-1
) and was
produced with P application @ 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
along with CR incorporation. Similarly in case of wheat
grown after DSR, maximum tillers (17), spike length (17), grain panicle-1
(66) and grain yield (3.56t ha-1
)
were produced with P application @80kg P2
O5
ha-1
along with CR incorporation. Although, the growth
and yield contributing parameters with this treatment (80kg P2
O5
ha-1
+CR) performed statistically equal
to 120kg P2
O5
ha-1
without CR incorporation during both the years, but on an average of two years, grain
yield of DSR and wheat was significantly superior (22 and 24% respectively) than that of higher P rate
(120kg ha-1
) without CR. Overall, continuous two year CR incorporation further increased (17%) paddy
yields during the follow up year of crop harvest. Higher concentration of P, K and Ca2+
in both DSR and
wheat plant tissues was found where 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
was applied along with CR incorporation or 120kg
P2
O5
ha-1
alone while Na+
and Mg2+
concentration decreased with CR incorporation and increasing P rate.
The soil salinity was decreased and fertility was improved significantly after two years of study.
Keywords: Slightly saline soil; Direct seeded rice; Crop residues incorporation; P application; Growth
and yield; Ionic concentration; P use efficiency
Abbreviations: CR: Crop Residues; ECe: Electrical Conductivity of Extract: pH; Negative log of Hydrogen
Ion; CaCO3
: Calcium Carbonate; P: Phosphorus; mg kg-1: milligram per kilogram; kg P2
O5
ha-1: Kilogram
Phosphate per hectare; DSR: Direct Seeded Rice; cm: Centimeter; t ha-1
: ton per hectare; K: Potash; Na+
and Mg2+
: Sodium and Magnesium; PUE: Phosphorus Use Efficiency; SOP: Sulfate of Potash; SAR: Sodium
Adsorption Ratio; SOM: Soil Organic Matter; TPU: Total P Uptake; LSD: Least Significant Difference; CO2
:
Carbon di Oxide

396
Mod Concep Dev Agrono Copyright © IA Mahmood
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
is affected by anion competition (PO4
--
and Cl-
) and many other
interactions. Applied P is captured by Ca2+
present in calcareous
soils and reacts with P to form insoluble dibasic Ca2+
phosphate
compounds and is thus fixed. Much work has been reported
regarding nutrient management for conventional crops to enhance
their yields under unfavorable situation but much less exertion is
reported on direct seeded rice under saline soils. There is a thirst to
find out the economical application of nutrients especially of P and
its availability to crop plants. Optimized P nutrition is critical for
producing potential yields because it encourages healthy growth,
development of strong root system, maximum tillering, uphold
more flowering and seed formation [12].
Often, P deficiency in rice is referred to as “hidden hunger”
which causes poor tillering, slow leaf canopy expansion, poor grain
formation and delayed maturity. In our country, more than 90%
soils are deficient in P [13]. There are so many factors responsible
for low paddy yield production. Farming community in rice-wheat
cropping system is facing water shortage, escalating fuel and high
fertilizer cost (particularly of P fertilizers) and labour shortage
during rice transplanting. About half of the rice cultivated area (~
1.0mha) is salt-affected which has moderate to high salinity, high
pH and shortage of good quality ground water causing 30-70%
paddy yield reduction [14]. Moreover, P availability in soluble
orthophosphate form is a prevalent limitation under calcareous
soils because it makes insoluble compounds and does not release
plant available P even upon heavy irrigations. Although, a large
proportion of applied P in the soil becomes immobile due to this
process [11,15]. However, the plants readily utilize only 8-33% of
applied P in the first growing season [16]. Hence, there is a need to
increase the use of P fertilizers in order to guarantee food security
for ever increasing populations. Soils containing insufficient
amounts of plant-available P not only produce economically
deplorable yields, but other inputs are also used less efficiently.
Thus, there is an urgent need to seek out strategies by which P
fertilizers can be used more effectively in such farming systems
where P is deficient and where its use is economically practicable.
Most of the farmers of rice-wheat cropping system burn wheat crop
residues to prepare their lands for timely rice transplanting. This
practice not only despoil the environment but also the precious
source of plant nutrients, main source of organic material and
the important constituent for soil health are being smashed on
large scale in this agricultural ecosystem. About 25% of N and P,
50% of the S, and 75% of K uptake by cereal crops are retained in
crop residues, making them valuable nutrient sources. Since large
portion of plant nutrients taken up by plants remains in the straw,
much of this can be recycled for subsequent crop growth after its
decomposition [11,17]. In many studies, recycling of crop residues
is reported to increase the organic carbon, nutrient contents,
increased crop yields [18-20].
Direct seeding of rice is a new and the most suitable technology
for resource poor community of salt-affected lands for which
transplanting labour cost, water and machinery tools expenses
required during puddling and transplanting could be saved in
addition to timely sowing of rice. The crop matures early as
compared to traditional transplanting which further makes possible
sowing of wheat crop well in time after the harvest of rice. Besides
these benefits, there is much more plant population under direct
seeded rice as compared to traditionally transplanted rice for which
nutrients requirement could also be higher to produce potential
yields. A little work is reported regarding nutrient management
particularly of P application for direct seeded rice in salt-affected
soils of Pakistan. Therefore, keeping all these factors in mind, a
long-term field study was planned to investigate appropriate P
dose for direct seeded rice along with wheat straw incorporating
and their impact on paddy yield in a slightly saline soil of district
Hafizabad.
Materials and Methods
A two year study under a permanent layout was conducted in
marginal saline soil of rice-wheat cropping system at farmers field
in district Hafizabad of Pakistan having ECe
=4.59dS m-1
, pH=8.38,
SAR= 6.57 (mmolc
L-1
)1/2
, Extractable P=4.07 mgkg-1
, CaCO3
=3.21%,
and sandy clay loam texture during 2011 and 2012 (Table 1-5).
The experiment was laid out according to split plot design with
three replications. Planting methods i.e., direct seeding with and
without crop residue (wheat) incorporation @2 t ha-1
were kept
in main plots and various P doses (0, 40, 80 and 120kg P2
O5
ha-1
)
were applied in sub plots. Recommended basal dose of N @100kg
ha-1
(half at sowing time and remaining half at tillering stage) and K
@50kg ha-1
as SOP were applied to all the plots at the time of sowing.
Soaked seed (for 24) of rice cv. Supper-2000 @40kg ha-1
was broad-
casted uniformly. The same inputs were applied to intermediate
wheat crop. Effective weedicides were used to control weeds
and the crop was grown to maturity. All agronomic requirements
and plant protection measures were met throughout the growth
period whenever required. Pre-sowing and after the harvest final
crop soil samples (0-15cm depth) were collected for ECe, SAR,
pH, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), P, K Ca contents analysis (Table 6
& 7) according to the methods suggested by Ryan et al. [21]. Plant
samples were collected at maturity for the determination of ionic
concentration in tissues. Dried and ground samples were digested
in perchloric-nitric acid (2:1 1N) mixture [22] to estimate P, K, Na+
,
Ca2+
and Mg2+
concentration in plant tissues by spectronic-20 and
atomic absorption spectrophotometer. At maturity, the crop was
harvested and agronomic data on fertile tillers, plant height, panicle
length, grains panicle-1
, 1000-grain weight, paddy and straw yields
were recorded. Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) was computed by
using the following formula as suggested by Fageria et al. [23]
( )
( ) ( )
( )
1
% 100
F C
TPU TPU
PUE
Pdose kgha−
−
= Χ
Where TPUF
is Total P uptake (kg ha-1
) in Fertilized Plots and
TPUC
is Total P uptake (kg ha-1
) in Control Plots. Total PU was
calculated as:
( )
( ) ( )
1
Yield
1
contents (%) in plant party ha
ha
100
P dry matter kg
TPU kg
−
Χ
−
=

397
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
Table 1: Growth and yield of direct seeded rice influenced by P application and CR incorporation under saline soil
(Average of three repeats).
P2
O5
(kg
ha-1
)
Tillers Plant Height (cm)
Panicle Length
(cm)
Grain Panicle-1 Paddy Yield (t
ha-1
)
Straw Yield (t
ha-1
)
+ CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR
2011
0 13.67 bc 8.00 d 126.33 a 118.00 b 26.00 bc 17.67 d 108.67 bc 78.33 d 2.497 cd 1.887 e
6.430
ab
4.760 c
40 14.00 bc 12.33 c 129.00 a 119.67 b 27.00 bc 22.00 c 110.67 b 99.33 c 2.637 bc 2.215 d 6.590 a 5.657 b
80 17.67 a
15.67
ab
130.00 a 120.67 b 30.67 a 24.67 bc 119.33 a 105.67 bc 2.987 a 2.707 abc 6.980 a 6.523 ab
120 16.00 ab
16.00
ab
130.00 a 120.67 b 28.00 ab 27.00 ab 115.67 a 114.33 ab
2.852
ab
2.817 abc 6.830 a 6.737 a
LSD 2.8362 4.6787 3.1727 8.36 0.2639 0.9532
2012
0 14.67 bc 9.33 d 125.67 b 98.00 d 29.33 bc 17.00 e 105.67 de 86.00 f 2.873 bc 1.560 e 7.223 b 5.090 d
40 15.00 bc 13.00 c
127.00
ab
114.00 c 31.00 b 24.00 d 113.33 bc 99.00 e
3.103
abc
2.127 d 7.313 b 5.750 c
80 18.67 a
15.67
ab
133.67 a 115.33 c 35.67 a 25.33 cd 122.67 a 109.00 cd 3.537 a 2.723 c 7.913 a 6.542 b
120 16.33 ab
16.33
ab
129.00
ab
116.33 c 31.67 b
26.67
bcd
118.67 ab 115.00 ab
3.308
ab
3.307 ab
7.510
ab
6.730 b
LSD 2.4983 7.794 3.7621 5.6257 0.5246 0.5817
Means followed by same letter(s) do not differ significantly at P ≤ 0.05 NS = Non-significant.
Table 2: Growth and yield of wheat influenced by P application and CR incorporation under saline soil (Average of three
repeats).
P2
O5
(kg
ha-1
)
Tillers Plant Height (cm)
Spike Length-1
(cm)
Grain Spike-1
Grain Yield (t ha-1
) Straw Yield (t ha-1
)
+ CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR
0 9.33 d 6.67 e 81.00 ab 71.00 b
12.67
cd
9.67 e 33.00 c 20.67 d 2.652 c 1.591 e 5.936 ab 3.476 d
40 12.33 c 8.67 de 88.33 a 74.33 b
14.33
bc
11.00 de 46.67 b 42.67 b 3.194 abc 2.054 d 6.314 ab 4.433 c
80 17.00 a 14.00 bc 89.67 a 78.67 ab 17.33 a 12.67 cd 56.33 a 43.67 b 3.560 a 2.877 bc 6.676 a 5.447 b
120 14.33 bc 16.33 ab 89.33 a 79.00 ab
15.33
ab
16.33 ab 48.33 b 46.00 b 3.259 ab 3.320 ab 6.377 ab 6.547 a
LSD 2.4807 9.2534 2.5848 6.2967 0.42 0.9954
Means followed by same letter(s) do not differ significantly at P≤0.05 NS=Non-significant.
Table 3: Ionic concentration (%) in DSR straw affected by P application and CR incorporation under saline soil (Average
of three repeats).
P2
O5
(kg
ha-1
)
K Na Ca Mg
+ CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR + CR – CR
2011
0 1.906 e 1.827 e 0.276 bc 0.459 a 0.196 c 0.091 d 0.196 b 0.389 a
40 2.268 de 2.167 de 0.266 bc 0.315 b 0.234 c 0.212 c 0.195 b 0.374 a
80 3.445 a 2.555 cd 0.144 e 0.230 cd 0.322 a 0.247 bc 0.141 b 0.390 a
120 2.920 b 2.992 b 0.178 de 0.209 cde 0.298 ab 0.320 a 0.135 b 0.355 a
LSD 0.4237 0.0473 0.0618 0.0738

398
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
2012
0 2.016 de 1.666 e 0.225 bc 0.419 a 0.126 d 0.085 e 0.120 c 0.215 a
40 2.748 bc 2.044 de 0.178 cd 0.290 ab 0.197 c 0.116 de 0.115 cd 0.174 b
80 3.645 a 2.289 cd 0.138 d 0.228 bc 0.291 a 0.196 c 0.094 d 0.143 c
120 3.053 b 2.739 bc 0.184 cd 0.199 cd 0.249 b 0.276 ab 0.107 d 0.106 d
LSD 0.4977 0.0734 0.0331 0.0275
Means followed by same letter(s) do not differ significantly at P≤0.05 NS=Non-significant
Table 4: Ionic concentration (%) in DSR paddy influenced by P application and crop residues (CR) incorporation under
saline soil (Average of three repeats)
P2
O5
(kg
ha-1
)
K Na Ca Mg
2011
0 0.790 f 0.264 g 0.127 bc 0.241 a 0.142 c 0.077 d 0.134 b 0.196 a
40 1.310 de 1.032 ef 0.116 bc 0.171 b 0.194 b 0.156 bc 0.106 cd 0.189 a
80 1.853 a 1.385 cd 0.087 c 0.137 bc 0.298 a 0.188 bc 0.079 e 0.183 a
120 1.570 bc 1.658 ab 0.098 c 0.104 c 0.272 a 0.251 a 0.098 de 0.123 bc
LSD 0.2035 0.0473 0.0327 0.0213
2012
0 0.835 d 0.282 e 0.149 bc 0.212 a 0.165 cd 0.045 e 0.112 cd 0.235 a
40 1.325 bc 1.136 c 0.096 d 0.159 b 0.226 b 0.154 d 0.099 cde 0.177 b
80 1.854 a 1.391 b 0.063 e 0.117 cd 0.291 a 0.192 bc 0.044 e 0.129 bc
120 1.674 a 1.759 a 0.085 de 0.089 de 0.265 a 0.219 b 0.068 de 0.063 de
LSD 0.1875 0.032 0.0358 0.0567
Means followed by same letter(s) do not differ significantly at P≤0.05 NS=Non-significant
Table 5: Ionic concentration (%) in wheat plant tissues influenced by P application and crop residues (CR) incorporation
under saline soil (Average of three repeats).
P2
O5
(kg
ha-1
)
K Na Ca Mg
Straw
0 1.249 c 1.163 c 0.136 bc 0.221 a 0.124 d 0.105 d 0.143 bc 0.216 a
40 1.896 ab 1.148 c 0.104 de 0.207 a 0.211 b 0.177 c 0.135 bcd 0.198 a
80 2.100 a 1.800 b 0.089 e 0.169 b 0.293 a 0.205 bc 0.106 cd 0.149 b
120 1.923 ab 1.874 ab 0.097 e 0.135 cd 0.219 b 0.222 b 0.121 bcd 0.102 d
LSD 0.2321 0.031 0.0329 0.0403
Grain
0 0.992 d 0.532 e 0.192 ab 0.207 a 0.124 bc 0.059 d 0.177 a 0.194 a
40 1.180 cd 0.994 d 0.144 c 0.174 b 0.173 b 0.108 c 0.118 bc 0.168 a
80 1.738 a 1.356 bc 0.098 f 0.138 cd 0.253 a 0.139 bc 0.076 d 0.137 b
120 1.517 ab 1.575 ab 0.116 de 0.110 ef 0.180 b 0.181 b 0.094 cd 0.106 cd
LSD 0.2484 0.017 0.0472 0.0271

399
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
The data thus, collected were subjected to statistical analysis
using software package MSTAT-C and treatment means were
compared using least significant difference (LSD) at 5 % probability
level [24].
Results
Growth and yield of DSR
On an average of two years data, maximum fertile tillers (19),
panicle length (34cm), grain panicle-1
(121) and paddy yield
(3.26t ha-1
) were produced with P application @ 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
along with CR incorporation during first and second cropping
years, respectively (Table 2). Although, these parameters were
statistically at par with P application @ 120kg P2
O5
ha-1
without CR
incorporation during both the years but grain yield harvested with
P application @ 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
along with CR incorporation was
significantly superior when compared with higher P rate (120kg
ha-1
) without CR during both the cropping years. On an average
of two-year data, paddy produced by this treatment showed
22% additional yield over control (0kg P ha-1
+CR). Under CR
incorporation, further increase in P application (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
)
caused 6% paddy yield reduction as compared to the P application
@ 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
. During second cropping year, interestingly the
lower dose of P (40kg P2
O5
ha-1
+CR) performed reasonably better
but was slightly comparable with higher rate of P (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) without CR incorporation. Overall, continuous two-year CR
incorporation further increased 17% paddy yield during the follow
up year of crop harvest as compared to previous crop harvest under
CR incorporation.
Growth and yield of wheat crop
Although, under CR incorporation, minimum number of
productive tillers (9.33), spike length (12.67cm), grain spike-1
(33.00) and grain yield (2.87t ha-1
) were produced from the plots
where no P was applied but these parameter were significantly
higher than that of control treatment (0kg P2
O5
ha-1
) without CR
incorporation (Table 3). A considerable increase in growth and
yield components, straw and grain yields of wheat grown were
observed with P fertilization and CR incorporation. Maximum
fertile tillers (17), spike length (17cm), grain panicle-1
(56) and
grain yield (3.56t ha-1
) was produced with P application @ 80kg
P2
O5
ha-1
along with CR incorporation, which was obviously superior
(7%) than the higher P application (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) rate without
CR incorporation. After the harvest of first DSR crop, the wheat
grain yield harvested with P application under CR incorporation
even in lesser amount (40kg P2
O5
ha-1
) performed slightly equal to
higher P rate (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) without CR incorporation. When P
was applied without CR incorporation, maximum grain yield was
obtained with increasing the rate of P and was the highest where
P was applied @ 120kg P2
O5
ha-1
but was not as much as harvested
with 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
under CR incorporation.
Ionic concentration and PUE of DSR and Wheat
It is evident from the data in Table 4 & 5 that high Na+
and
Mg2+
while low K+
and Ca2+
concentrations were determined from
both DSR and wheat plant tissues where no P was applied without
CR incorporation. Phosphorus application and CR incorporation
significantly reduced saline ions (Na+
and Mg2+
) concentration and
improved K+
and Ca2+
in both DSR and wheat crop plants. The data
indicated that P application particularly with CR incorporation
considerably decreased Na+
concentration and increased K+
and
Ca2+
concentration in plant tissues. Phosphorus application still at
lower rate (40kg P2
O5
ha-1
) along with CR incorporation performed
better or even statistically equal to higher dose of P (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) without CR incorporation. Similarly, maximum PUE in case of
DSR (26%) and wheat (23%) was reflected from the plots treated
with 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
application under CR incorporation (Figure 1)
which was comparable with higher P dose (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) under
no CR incorporation. Under CR incorporation, further increase in P
application (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) did not showed significant difference
in PUE by both the crops. On the other hand, when P was applied
without CR incorporation, maximum PUE was determined from the
treatments where P was applied at higher rate (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
)
and was not as much of P application @80kg P2
O5
ha-1
under CR
incorporation.
Figure 1: PUE (%) of DSR and Wheat as influenced by CR incorporation and P application under saline soil.

400
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
Effect of CR on soil physical status ECe, SAR and pH
After the harvest of final DSR crop, overall 21% decline in ECe
with CR incorporation was observed as compared to before the
sowing of DSR with CR incorporation (Table 6). Increasing the rate
of P application under CR incorporation also caused a significant
reduction in ECe being the maximum decline with higher rates of
P2
O5
(80 and 120kg ha-1
) after completion of study. The ECe fell
down to 3.79dS m-1
against 4.15dS m-1
before sowing of DSR due
to CR incorporation and was exactly below the acceptable limit of
soil ECe for successful crop growth and yield production. Similarly,
under CR incorporation, there was also a considerable reduction
in the value of SAR from 6.57 before crop sowing to 4.87 (mmolc
L-1
)1/2
after the harvest of third season DSR crop. A minimum mean
value of pH (8.15) was observed from the plots incorporated with
CR. Decrease in pH value under CR incorporation along with P
application was slightly higher as compared to control (0kg P2
O5
ha-1
) plots.
Table 6: Physico-chemical analysis of saline soil before initiation and after the study during 2011-12 (Average of 3
repeats).
ECe SAR pH
+ CR – CR Mean + CR – CR Mean + CR – CR Mean
Before Sowing
0 4.59NS
4.58NS
4.58NS
6.57NS
6.56 6.57NS
8.38 NS 8.38NS
8.38NS
40 4.57 4.57 4.58 6.56 6.57 6.57 8.39 8.37 8.38
80 4.58 4.59 4.58 6.57 6.56 6.57 8.38 8.38 8.38
120 4.58 4.58 4.58 6.56 6.57 6.57 8.38 8.39 8.38
Mean 4.58 NS 4.58 6.57NS 6.57 8.38 NS 8.38
After the Harvest of final Crop
0 3.87 d 4.58 a 4.22 A 4.92 d 6.57 a 5.74 A 8.18 c 8.38 a 8.28 A
40 3.84 d 4.51 b 4.17 B 4.87 de 6.45 b 5.66 B 8.16 c 8.37 a 8.27 B
80 3.69 f 4.42 c 4.06 C 4.82 e 6.42 bc 5.62 BC 8.11 e 8.34 b 8.23 C
120 3.77 e 4.38 c 4.08 C 4.85 de 6.36 c 5.61 C 8.14 d 8.32 b 8.23 C
Mean 3.79 B 4.47 A 4.87 B 6.45 A 8.15 B 8.35 A
Soil Organic Matter (SOM) and P, K and Ca contents
The data in Table 7 shows that at the end of study, there was
a significant improvement in organic matter content as well as P,
K and Ca availability owing to continuous CR incorporation and P
fertilization. Maximum SOM, P, K and Ca contents were recorded
with increased P application rate under CR incorporation in saline
soil.
Table 7: Organic Matter (OM) and Nutrient Status of saline soil before initiation and after the study during 2011-12
(Average of 3 repeats)
OM K Ca
+ CR – CR Mean + CR – CR Mean + CR – CR Mean
Before Sowing
0 0.52NS
0.54NS
0.54NS
78.03NS
77.05NS
77.02NS
42.11NS
43.04NS
42.29NS
40 0.54 0.52 0.54 77.1 76.49 77.02 43.24 41.22 42.29
80 0.53 0.54 0.54 79.09 77.02 77.02 42.73 41.57 42.29
120 0.54 0.53 0.54 76.62 77 77.02 41.58 43.86 42.29
Mean 0.54 0.54 77.02NS 77.02 42.29NS 42.29
After the Harvest of final Crop
0 0.68 NS
0.49 NS
0.59NS
95.26 a 78.86 d 87.06 A 49.20 a 33.79 c 41.50 A
40 0.69 0.52 0.61 93.46 b 75.73 e 84.60 B 48.55 ab 32.79 d 40.67 B
80 0.71 0.53 0.62 88.48 c 73.86 e 81.17 C 48.13 b 32.67 d 40.40 B
120 0.7 0.54 0.62 91.75 b 70.82 f 81.29 C 48.33 b 32.76 d 40.55 B
Mean 0.69 A 0.52 B 92.24 A 74.82 B 48.55 A 33.00 B

401
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
Discussion
Growth and yield of DSR and Wheat
Crop residue incorporation positively contributed in growth
and yield of DSR particularly during second year. This was most
probably due to complete decomposition and mineralization
of added CR that enriched the soil with mineral nutrients in
addition to improvement in soil physical condition by ameliorating
toxic effects of hazardous ions. Moreover, water and P retention
capacity might have also been improved due to added CR that
retained comparatively excess moisture and P availability for a
longer time. Besides, fabrication of acid farming substances by
microbial activities and partial pressure of CO2
released during
CR decomposition decreased soil pH and enhanced P availability
and other necessary plant nutrients which encouraged healthy
plant growth and hence yields. Crop residue incorporation upon
decomposition substantially altered the nutrient stability in soils
and reduced the adverse effect of saline ions. Similar points of
view have also been documented by [11,25-27]. Further, adequate
P fertilization promoted vigorous early plant growth, improved
tillering and increased number of grains per panicle which
eventually produced better yield of DSR [12,28].
The increase in yield due to CR incorporation as well as P
application have also been well documented by Eagle et al. [19],
Slaton et al. [29], Sharma and Prasad [30], Krishna et al. [20],
Aslam et al. [10], Ali et al. [31]. A significant increase in growth
and yield components, straw and grain yields of wheat grown
after DSR was observed with P fertilization and CR incorporation.
This was definitely attributable to CR incorporation that reduced
the intake of saline ions (Table 5) and enhanced PUE (Figure I).
Besides, adequate P application and its judicious utilization further
facilitated to improve growth and yield contributing parameters.
As it have been discussed earlier, that CR incorporation upon
decomposition substantially changed the nutrient balance in
rhizosphere and microorganisms form symbiotic associations
with plant roots increase the surface area and their access to P.
Some microorganisms discharge acids into the soil which can help
to solubilize little P minerals. Conversely, minimum number of
productive tillers, panicle and spike lengths, DSR grains panicle-1
,
wheat grains spike-1
and yields in case of control (0kg P2
O5
ha-1
) of
both DSR and wheat crops were due to the P deficiency that directly
distorted the normal tillering and grain formation by inhibiting
their materialization and hence reduced yields [32,33]. When P was
applied without CR incorporation, higher grain yield was obtained
with increasing P rate and was the maximum where P was applied
@120kg P2
O5
ha-1
. Better crop growth and yield with maximum P
application (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) under no CR incorporation could be
due the reason that crops grown under salt-affected soils demands
relatively higher nutrition to reach the potential yields [8,10]. But
again this yield (harvested with 120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) under no CR
incorporation was, however, 6% less than obtained from 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
with CR incorporation. It is obvious from the data in Table 3
that during second year of crop grown under CR incorporation,
even lower P rate (40kg P2
O5
ha-1
) performed moderately as equal
to higher rate (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
with no CR) for both the crops. This
happened most probably due to native P release from fixed sites due
to acidified rhizosphere as a result of microbial activities during CR
decomposition that enhanced its availability and ultimately grain
yields. Moreover, fully decomposed CR and mineralization during
subsequent wheat and DSR growing season presumably enriched
the soil with mineral nutrients that contributed to a large extent
in producing the maximum grain yields. Further, the longer root
system in wheat crop might have absorbed nutrients from deeper
soil layers to ensure healthy crop growth and hence yield. Thus,
a higher application rate led to more P availability by enriching
P content in the deeper layers where longer roots absorbed that
residual P, consequently allowing more P uptake to produce
maximum yield.
There are several reports that signify the role of P application
in the enhancement of crop yields [27,32,34]. Advantages of crop
residue incorporation in soil and integrated nutrient management
has been widely discussed by Byous et al. [17], Shiva et al. [35]
and Ali et al. [31] who reported that a major part of nutrients
(NPK) taken up by rice and wheat crops remains in the straw and
become available for following crop plants upon decomposition.
Similar conclusions have also been reported by Abid et al. [36],
Sharma & Prasad [30], Kharub et al. [37] and Yadvinder et al.
[38]. Consequently, a substantial amount of P requirement for
crop growth could be met by the incorporation of CR. Adequate
P application approach on problem soils within the rice-wheat
cropping system have to guarantee high and sustainable food grain
production, high net profit and build-up of native soil P in available
form.
Ionic concentration in plant tissues, PUE and soil
physical status
The higher concentrations of P, K+
and Ca2+
in CR treated plots
could be due to enhanced mineral nutrition in soil through complete
decomposition and mineralization of incorporated CR, which
improved the nutrient status in the plough layer and P application
further facilitated their intake by crop plants because of synergistic
effect with saline ions [11,29]. Phosphorus application particularly
with CR incorporation considerably decreased Na+
contents and
increased K+
and Ca2+
concentrations in plant tissues. Ali et al. [39]
have reported that in the presence of relatively higher nutrients
concentration in rhizosphere, plants absorbed and translocated
relatively more K+
and less Na+
than at lower concentrations. The
data indicated that P application still at lower rate (40kg P2
O5
ha-1
)
along with CR incorporation performed better or even statistically
equal to higher dose of P without CR incorporation. These findings
could also be supported by the results of Kinraide [40,41], Haq et
al. [42], Delgado et al. [32] and Mahmood et al. [43] who reported
that the root medium salinity interferes with the absorption and
translocation of K+
and Ca2+
by plants.
In the earlier discussion, it has been reported that enhanced
CO2
partial pressure in the rhizosphere during CR decomposition
process and microbial respiration increased the availability of
released and added P as well as other essential nutrients. Crop
residues incorporation upon decaying certainly modified the
environment by adding organic matter and nutrients as well.

402
MCDA.MS.ID.000582. 4(2).2019
This could be supported by the data in Tables 6 & 7. Improved
soil physical conditions further contributed to more P uptake
and ultimately increased crop growth and yields. Under CR
incorporation, additional increase in P application (120kg P2
O5
ha-
1
) did not showed significant difference in PUE by both the crops.
On the other hand, when P was applied without CR incorporation,
maximum PUE was determined from the treatments where P was
applied at higher rate (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) and was not as much of P
application @ 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
under CR incorporation. This was most
probably due to excessive uptake of saline ions in the form of Na2
PO4
compounds [11] that comparatively reduced biomass production
of both the crops which resulted in relatively less PUE. Further the
retention of P in soil in the forms that are not directly available
to plants is, fundamentally, an intrinsic soil characteristic. Many
studies have investigated the effects of pH variation on P retention
and availability, but reliable enhancement in soil P availability has
not yet been obtained. However, minor changes may be achievable.
For example, evidences from many detailed studies show that the
more organic matter there is in soil, the more the amount of very
readily-available plant P [31,44-46]. Our results indicated that P
application @ 80kg P2
O5
ha-1
along with CR incorporation (2t ha-
1
) was found to be superior than rest of the treatments in terms of
producing maximum grain yields of both DSR and wheat crops grown
under marginally saline soil [47,48]. During second year of DSR
grown under CR incorporation, the lower P application rate (40kg
P2
O5
ha-1
) performed slightly better and produced comparable paddy
yield as that of higher P application rate (120kg P2
O5
ha-1
) without
CR incorporation. Therefore, continuous CR incorporation is worth
recommended to restore soil fertility as well as productivity.
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